Freshwater Biome Animals

Water is undoubtedly one of the most important constituent of the planet. Covering around 75 percent of the total surface area of Earth, water does play a crucial role in supporting life on it. This in itself highlights the importance of aquatic biome for maintaining proper balance in the ecosystem. The aquatic biome is home to numerous members of kingdom Animalia including fish, reptiles, amphibians etc. Add to it the number of species which are indirectly dependent on this biome, and the number just swells.

Aquatic biome is divided into two parts - marine biome (consisting of saline water sources such as oceans, coral reefs, estuaries etc.) and freshwater biome (consisting of freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands etc.) Even though the latter is just a small facet of the planet's ecosystem, the plants and animals inhabiting this biome have a crucial role to play in smooth functioning of the ecosystem of the planet.

Freshwater Biome: An Overview

Also known as freshwater ecosystem, freshwater biome contains 0.009 percent of the total water present on the planet. Though 75 percent (approximately 1/5th) of the Earth's surface is covered with water, the freshwater sources only account for a mere 0.8 percent of the same. These sources of freshwater include rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, wetlands, brooks, creeks, canals etc. These sources house half of the total drinking water available on the planet, while the other half is stored in the form of glaciers and ground water. Other than housing drinking water, which is necessary for all the lifeforms on the Earth, these freshwater sources also house hundreds of species of fish and thousands of species of amphibians, along with numerous other species of insects, mammals etc.

Freshwater Biome Animals

Owing to immense diversity that one can see in freshwater sources, the animal and plant life found here is also quite diverse. It includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, as well as a few species mammals. There also exist numerous species of birds and animals which are directly or indirectly dependent on various freshwater sources. The animals found in this biome tend to differ from one freshwater source to another. While the rivers and streams, which are predominantly characterized by moving water, will house different types of freshwater fish, the wetlands, with stagnant water, will provide an ideal condition for a variety of amphibians, reptiles and insect species.

When we talk about aquatic animals, the first thing to come to our mind is the variety of fish species which inhabit the water bodies - and freshwater biome is no exception. It might come as a surprise for many but this biome is home to as many as 41 percent of the fish species found on the planet. Some of the most common species endemic to the freshwater sources of the planet include salmon, bass, trouts etc. One of the best examples of adaptations in freshwater species - the amphibians in particular - is their ability to thrive in running as well as stagnant water.

These amphibious species include frogs, salamanders etc. Similarly, there also exist water fleas, i.e. tiny creatures which tend to feed on cyanobacteria in the water. Insects are also quite common in these sources of freshwater, especially in stagnant water sources which act as great breeding grounds for them. More importantly, these insects also act as a food source for various other animals in this biome, and therefore form a crucial part of the freshwater food chain. When it comes to reptiles, water snakes such as water moccasins are quite common.

While several species of birds and mammals are dependent on the freshwater ecosystem for food, there are a few which themselves form an important part of this ecosystem. Birds found in this biome include ducks, geese etc., while mammals include otters, beavers, manatees etc. These birds and mammals form an important part of the food chain when it comes to freshwater ecosystem. Birds like cranes, hornbills, kingfishers, etc., as well as mammals like bears, foxes etc., are dependent on freshwater sources for food.

The fact that freshwater biome contains a mere 0.009 percent of the total water on the planet may make a person feel that it is least important from ecological point of view. That, however, is a misconception considering that it is the most important biome not just for the plants and animals which thrive in it, but also for us human beings. Like the other biomes of the world, even this biome is facing its own share of threats. If we don't put in efforts to save the freshwater source on the planet today, it may be too late for us even to try tomorrow.